ground rules

Following these guidelines will ensure your conversation is a safe place for everyone involved to express their opinion — we can almost promise that you will have a productive, insightful conversation!

Be curious and open to learning.

Conversation is as much about listening as it is about talking. Listen and be open to hearing all points of view. Maintain an attitude of exploration and learning.

Show respect and suspend judgment.

Human beings tend to judge one another; do your best not to. Setting judgments aside opens you up to learning from others and makes them feel respected and appreciated.

Find common ground and appreciate differences.

Look for a common ground you can agree on and appreciate the differences in the beliefs and opinions of others.

Be authentic and welcome that from others.

Share what’s important to you. Speak authentically from your personal experience. Be considerate of others who are doing the same.

Be purposeful and to the point.

Notice if what you are conveying is or is not pertinent to the topic at hand. Be cognizant of making the same point more than once.

Own and guide the conversation.

Take responsibility for the quality of your participation and that of the conversation. Be proactive in getting yourself and others back on track if needed.